American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Chapter 198 Things are getting worse
The man nodded, his face pale. "I don't know who he is, but... he does have the symbol of the Holy Blood Alliance on him."

Lynn was silent for a moment, then turned to Hans and said, "We have to find this person."

Hans whistled softly, "Looks like tonight will be another sleepless night."

Linn and Hans' car parked at the edge of an abandoned parking lot, surrounded by dilapidated buildings and musty garbage. This was the location the tattoo artist had provided—a haunt of the lower-class thugs of the Holy Blood Alliance. At the far end of the lot, a few figures could be seen gathered together smoking, their postures relaxed and lazy, seemingly unaware of the hunter's stealthy approach.

"I don't understand how you convinced the tattoo artist to talk," Hans muttered. He took the gun out of its holster, checked the magazine, and quickly put it back in. "That guy looked like he was going to pee his pants any second."

"He's afraid of the Holy Blood Alliance." Lin En answered in a low and cold tone while observing the situation in the parking lot, "But he's more afraid of me."

Hans chuckled. "You're such a delightful fellow."

Lin En ignored his sarcasm. He narrowed his eyes, staring at the target in the distance of the parking lot, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. This was a risk, as they had no idea what useful information this so-called clue would yield. But Lin En knew that some things had to be gambled.

"Remember," Lynn whispered to Hans, "We want to live."

"You always deprive me of the fun of shooting." Hans shrugged, but still followed Lynn, carefully approaching the target along the perimeter of the parking lot.

Their target was a low-level thug named Ramos, who was said to be a thug on the periphery of the Holy Blood Alliance, responsible for delivering information and handling other "odd jobs." However, judging by the tattoo artist's description, he seemed unaware of the Holy Blood Alliance's true plans—more like cannon fodder used to take the blame.

When Lynn and Hans approached, they overheard the conversation between Ramos and several other thugs.

"Look, I don't care what those guys are up to," Ramos said, his voice gruff and irritated. "But I want the money. Why would I work for them if they don't pay me?"

"Shut up, Ramos," another thug warned, lighting a cigarette. "You don't know what those people are like. If they knew you were saying that behind their backs, your body wouldn't even be found."

"Damn the Holy Blood Alliance!" Ramos spat, his tone filled with resentment. "They only know how to control people with those scary symbols and threats. Let me tell you, if I didn't owe them so much, I would have shot myself in the head a long time ago. It would be better than this."

Lin and Hans stopped behind a pile of abandoned cars and listened to Ramos' complaints. Hans muttered, "Good boy, it seems this guy doesn't have much loyalty to his boss either."

"Loyalty is not important, intelligence is important." Lynn responded coldly.

Ramos's complaints continued, but soon his voice became alert. "Wait a minute," he whispered, his eyes darting around. "Did you hear anything?"

Lin En cursed inwardly, knowing they had been discovered. Without wasting time, he stepped out from behind the cover, his pistol pointed steadily at Ramos.

"Don't move, FBI." Lynn's voice was as cold as ice, directly penetrating the cold night wind.

"Fuck!" Ramos cursed softly, and his men immediately made a move to draw their guns, but Lin En was faster. He moved the muzzle of his gun slightly and pointed it directly at the thug who was trying to resist.

"Don't do it, or you'll be the first to fall." There was no emotion in Lynn's tone, as if he was already accustomed to violent scenes.

Hans also came out from behind the cover at this time, pointing his gun to the other side, "Everyone, we don't have time to waste with you. If you are smart, you'd better cooperate."

Ramos raised his hands and forced a seemingly nonchalant smile, but his eyes were full of tension. "Listen, listen, brothers. There's no need to get so excited, right? We're just... uh, chatting."

"Small talk?" Lin En sneered. "Your 'small talk' with the Holy Blood Alliance took me three whole blocks. Now let's talk about something really important."

Lin En quickly stepped forward, pushed Ramos into an abandoned car, and pointed the gun at his forehead. "Tell me, what is the Holy Blood Alliance looking for?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Ramos said in a panic, waving his hands around, trying to look innocent. "I'm just an errand boy! Seriously, I don't know anything!"

"You're a terrible liar, Ramos." Lin En's voice was icy cold. "We know you're delivering information for the Holy Blood Alliance, and we also know you owe them a lot of debt. If you don't want to be responsible for a few more lives, you'd better tell me the truth."

"I swear!" Ramos' tone became more and more urgent. "I don't know what they are looking for! Those people never tell me anything specific! They only ask me to pass on messages or deliver packages. I don't even know what is in those packages!"

"What news did you convey?" Lin En's eyes were as sharp as blades.

"Just... just some threats or warnings!" Ramos said quickly, "They told me to tell some people to mind their own business and to pass on the message that 'time is almost up'. That's it! I don't even know what they mean!"

Lin En's brow furrowed tightly. He stared at Ramos, trying to find flaws in every subtle expression on his face. But he knew that what Ramos said might be true. This guy was just an errand boy, used as a tool by the Holy Blood Alliance, and had no access to the real core.

"Who contacted you? Who gave you instructions?" Lin En's tone was still cold.

"There's a guy called 'Marco.'" Ramos swallowed, his voice almost trembling. "He's my only contact. I don't know his real name, and I've never seen his face. He always wears a hat and sunglasses, and his voice is strange, as if he's deliberately changing it."

"Where is Marco?" Lynn continued to ask.

"I don't know!" Ramos almost shouted, "He always contacts me and asks me to meet him in different places, never a fixed place! I swear, I really don't know!"

Lin En took a deep breath, released the man, and took a step back. But his eyes remained sharp. "Listen, Ramos. This is your only chance. If you lie again, we will make you spend the rest of your life in prison, or worse. Now, I want you to tell me what the Holy Blood Alliance's next move will be."

"I don't know!" Ramos almost cried, "They don't tell me anything like this! I've heard some rumors that they're looking for some 'holy artifact', but I have no idea what it is!"

A hint of disappointment flashed through Lin En's heart, but his expression remained unchanged. He knew that Ramos might really be just a marginal figure, but even so, this information was still valuable.

"Okay, Ramos," Lynn said coldly, "but if I find out you've been hiding anything from us, you'll regret living in this world."

Lynn turned and left, and Hans followed, leaving Ramos slumped beside the abandoned car.

"What should we do next?" Hans asked, his tone somewhat exhausted. "This guy is obviously just an errand boy. He doesn't know even half as much as you do."

"He mentioned a name, 'Marco,'" Lynn whispered. "That's our only clue."

Hans shrugged. "I hope I can find some genuine stuff this time. Otherwise, I'll really have to consider finding an easier job."

Night fell, the street lights dim and radiating a cold, desolate glow. Lynn and Hans had just gotten into the car, the low roar of the engine resonating distinctly in the darkness. Their minds were still swirling with Ramos's confession and the mysterious "Marco." These clues, though sparse, were like a fuse, hinting at a greater crisis.

"To be honest," Hans said lazily as he fiddled with the navigation system in the car and chewed his gum, "I've heard too much nonsense tonight. If I had to face a jerk like Ramos again, I might really break down."

"Shut up, Hans." Lynn stared at the rearview mirror, his brows slightly furrowed. He always felt that something was wrong. Although the streets around him seemed quiet, his intuition, which had been formed over the years, kept sending out warnings.

"Oh, that tone again." Hans rolled his eyes. "Every time you speak in that voice, something bad happens—"

His voice cut off abruptly, for at that moment, the rear of the car jolted violently, as if struck by something heavy. Lynn decisively slammed on the brakes, the wheels screeching against the ground as the car screeched to a halt. "What the hell?" Hans cursed, quickly drawing his pistol and glancing behind the car.

Lin En gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. Under the dim streetlight, a blurry figure slowly emerged from the shadows. His figure was tall and twisted, his shoulders broad as if they were not of a normal human. His skin reflected a strange metallic sheen in the light. Even through the car window, Lin En could feel the unsettling pressure.

"What is that?" Hans swallowed, his finger already on the trigger.

"Mutants." Lynn whispered, his voice as low as a stone falling into a deep pool.

The mutant's eyes glowed an eerie red, his face expressionless. He stood there, a cold-blooded machine, then suddenly moved. With astonishing speed, he rushed to the car in an instant and slammed his fist into the door. The steel door dented like paper, and the entire car shook.

"Go!" Lynn roared and stepped on the accelerator.

The car roared and rushed forward. The mutant's fingers slid across the rear of the car, causing a series of sharp metal friction sounds, but Lin En's driving skills were extremely precise. He adjusted the direction in an instant and drove away quickly.

"That guy wants to tear us to pieces!" Hans roared, looking back at the figure that was getting farther and farther away.

"Don't look back." Lin En said coldly, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, his eyes focused. "He won't let us go easily."

Just as he finished speaking, a dull thud was heard from the roof of the car. Lin En immediately understood what was going on. The guy was catching up.

"Damn it! He's jumped onto the roof!" Hans shouted. He had already drawn his pistol. "What should I do? Should I shoot?"

"Don't mess around!" Lynn gritted his teeth and swerved the steering wheel, trying to throw the mutant off the roof by making a sharp turn. However, the guy's arms were like iron hooks holding the roof tightly. No matter how violently the car body shook, his body was as steady as a rock.

Suddenly, a sharp tearing sound came from the roof. Hans looked up and saw that the metal plate above his head had been torn apart by the other party's hands! A huge hole appeared on the roof, and half of the mutant's face peeked out from the hole, revealing a cold smile.

"He's coming in!" Hans raised his gun suddenly, aimed it at the face and pulled the trigger.

Gunshots exploded in the cramped car, and bullets hit the mutant's face directly. However, shockingly, those bullets were like hitting steel, sparks flying everywhere, and could not penetrate the mutant's skin at all.

"Fuck! What is this thing made of?" Hans exclaimed.

Lynn didn't answer. He knew that if they continued like this, they would be torn to pieces by this monster sooner or later. He slammed on the brakes, causing the car to spin in place. The mutant lost his balance, tumbled off the roof, and fell heavily to the ground.

"Shall we go?" Hans called out, his eyes still fixed on the rearview mirror.

"No." Lynn said coldly, then opened the car door and walked out.

"You're crazy!" Hans shouted, but quickly jumped out of the car and pointed the gun at the mutant on the ground.

The mutant slowly climbed to his feet, completely ignoring the impact of the fall. His movements were mechanical and stiff, but his red eyes still flashed a dangerous light. He growled, a sound like the impact of metal, and then rushed towards Lin.

Lynn reacted extremely quickly, rolling to avoid the opponent's collision, and at the same time pulling out his pistol, he aimed at the opponent's knees and fired several shots. Although the bullets did not completely penetrate the opponent's metal skin, this time, their power successfully hindered the mutant's movements.

"The leg joints are more fragile!" Lynn reminded Hans loudly, while continuing to retreat and keep distance from the opponent.

"Good news always comes late." Hans muttered, but still adjusted his aim and fired two shots at the mutant's knees. This time, the mutant's movements were obviously slower, but he still did not fall down.

The mutant roared and swung his arm violently. His hand was like some kind of giant metal hammer, smashing directly at where Lin was. Lin dodged, but the ground was smashed into a deep crater, and gravel flew everywhere.

"This guy won't stop!" Hans shouted, continuing to fire. "We have to find a way to kill him!"

"Lead him over there!" Lynn quickly pointed to the side of the street where an abandoned truck was parked. "We need more firepower!"

Hans didn't ask any more questions, but immediately began to retreat, moving towards the truck. He fired to attract the mutant's attention while quickly approaching the target. The mutant roared and chased after him, completely ignoring Hans' bullets.

Lin En took the opportunity to get behind the mutant and quickly climbed onto the truck. He opened the door of the cab, checked it out, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Is the car okay?" Hans asked loudly while continuing to guide the mutants closer.

"Okay," Linn replied simply. He quickly started the truck's engine, adjusted the direction, and waited for the best opportunity.

When the mutant finally approached, Lynn slammed the accelerator. The truck roared and rammed directly into the mutant. A huge crash echoed in the night, and the mutant's body was violently sent flying, landing heavily in the rubble not far away.

"Is this finally the end?" Hans panted, looking at the mutant lying on the ground, almost embedded in the rubble.

Lynn jumped down from the truck, gun in hand, and slowly approached the target. He knew that this mutant was no ordinary enemy, and even if it looked like it had been knocked down, he couldn't let his guard down.

However, just as Lin En approached, the mutant's body suddenly twitched violently. His eyes flashed a few times, and then he made a mechanical sound, and then his body slowly stopped moving.

"Is he... dead?" Hans asked cautiously, the gun still pointed at the mutant.

"No," Lynn frowned, carefully observing the other man's body, "He's not dead. He was remotely shut down."

"Remote shutdown?" Hans was stunned. "You mean, he's... being controlled by someone?"

Lin En nodded, his eyes stern. "This guy is not an ordinary mutant. He is the product of some kind of experiment. And the person who controls him... is likely related to the Holy Blood Alliance."

Hans was silent for a moment, then cursed under his breath, "This is just getting worse."

The conference room lights at FBI headquarters were cold and white, blinding the eyes. Lynn stood at one end of a long table, the whiteboard behind him covered with case photos, evidence reports, and a few grainy surveillance screenshots. The coffee cups on the table exuded a strong, bitter aroma, but no one was willing to touch them.

Hans sat at the table, chewing gum and twirling his pen absentmindedly. Although his expression was relaxed, the fatigue in his eyes betrayed his true state. The other agents were either standing or sitting, and the atmosphere was so solemn that it made the air seem heavy.

"So, what do we know now?" Lynn spoke, his tone as sharp as a knife, his eyes sweeping over everyone in the room.

A young agent wearing glasses raised his hand and flipped open his notebook. "Well, according to our current intelligence, the scope of the Holy Blood Alliance's activities has significantly expanded recently. They are no longer limited to traditional drug trafficking or black market activities. Instead, they have begun to pursue something more secretive and... to be honest, more bizarre."

"For example?" Hans interrupted, his tone a little impatient. "Don't tell me about those so-called 'holy relics'. We've heard enough of them."

(End of this chapter)